Barbara Bruner interview

[00:07]
CP: So, I’m Claire and can you tell us your name.
BB: Sure, Barbara Bruner Class of ‘76.
CP: Where are you coming from today?
BB: Pasadena, where there has been a tremendous windstorm and I was without power for a
while but everything is cool now so that’s good.
CP: And how does it feel to be back on campus today?
BB: You know, well not so much today because I just parked and came over, but when I come
back to the campus I’m always impressed that some things have changed a lot, but some things
are the same. It’s still a really beautiful campus. It’s almost comforting to walk on campus.
CP: And what have you noticed that’s changed over the years?
BB: I was here in the 70’s like I said ‘72 to ‘76 and the dorms were sort of their own entity. Each
dorm had their own dining hall. So, Malott commons didn’t exist and of course the new dorms
didn’t exist and it made for a different kind of a feel. I get the sense that there is more of a whole
college cohesiveness. That was a little bit different, people had a sort of allegiance to their
particular dorm when I was coming here. But I think that’s a positive thing
CP: So did you live in the same dorm all four years?
BB: I did. I lived in what’s called Clark hall now. It was called Grace Scripps then. I loved it
because it’s beautiful.
CP: Yeah it’s a really nice dorm. Where there sort of stereotypes to the certain dorms? Did
certain people live in certain dorms?
BB: You know I didn’t get that sense, although some people say that. There are certainly
stereotypes to the colleges though. I was more aware of that.
CP: And you talked about eating in the dining halls within the certain dorms. Did you usually eat
in Clark hall or did you go from dorm to dorm?
BB: More often than not I would eat in the dining hall in the residence hall where I lived, in
Grace Scripps, but if I ate outside I would usually eat off campus. I don’t remember much now,
but maybe at Pomona or CMC. I think Pomona had an excellent brunch so we were usually lured
over there on the weekends.
CP: And did you spend much time of the other campuses?
BB: I did. I was a human biology major, so I took a lot of my courses through what was then
Joint Sciences which I guess is Keck now, and a couple classes on Pitzer’s campus. So anywhere
that held a particular interest for me.
CP: What did you notice about the sort of differences then between Pitzer and Scripps? Was
Pitzer still…
BB: Pitzer was coed at the time I was here and Pitzer was viewed then similar to the way it is
viewed now. It is a very liberal, sort of a freewheeling newer institution.
CP: So you took classes at Pitzer and you said CMC or Pomona?
BB: No, Pomona. Pitzer, Pomona, and then Joint Sciences. So, whoever took credit for that.
CP: Yeah and what did you feel like? You said Pitzer sort of seemed freewheeling and liberal,
what do you think Scripps was perceived as at the time?
BB: Um, a little more regimented, I don't even know if that’s the correct word but, there was a
sense of a more formalized curriculum. Which I guess still exists. Pitzer was perceived that you
could pursue any interest that was outside of your major. I also think that, incorrectly, Scripps
had a bit of a finishing school kind of image.
CP: And how was it being a woman in the sciences back then. Where there lots of biology
majors and science majors from Scripps?
BB: You know what, I don't know about lots. There were some, there were many. I’m
encouraged that science is more of a viable option here at Scripps than it was then. And for me it
was purely accidental. I was not that interested in the sciences and it sort of came about the more
classes I took. I failed the Principles of Natural Science initially, the only class in my life I ever
recall failing, but I just wasn't interested. But I took a biology class at the local junior college and
I actually sort of liked it so I ended up taking more classes and ended up majoring in human
biology as a result of discovering that sort of dormant interest.
CP: And was that a major on the campuses at the time or was that a self designed major?
BB: It was it was actually a major and it was kind of interesting in that that we had a substantial
set of humanities requirements then. Scripps still does, but I think even then there were more
courses required. I don't remember exactly how many were required. And then human biology as
a major, I think most majors required 8 courses, but human biology required, I want to say 12, I
never counted them up, but it wasn't just biology. It was biology, anthropology sociology, and
psychology. So you had to take intro in each of those divisions and then upper division classes.
So it worked out well for me
CP: So what do you remember about the core program? I know when I come back in however
many years I will be like ‘Oh core!’ So what was the core program like back then?
[6:02]
BB: It was interesting. I remember there was some colloquium of music and and a number of
cross disciplines and for some reason I didn’t get into that course and I really wanted to. So I sort
of did a humanities of my own choosing, but I always felt like I missed that, that colloquium
course that everyone talked about that was so rigorous and so hard. I don't know how I cobbled
together an assortment of other humanities courses that fulfilled the requirement. You know, I
liked it. I think I came to college with sort of no particular interest, but interests in a variety of
things and so it was nice to be exposed to a little bit of everything.
CP: So, lets talk about the everyday culture at Scripps. What do you remember about that?
BB: Well, I was thinking as I drove over here. There were a lot of little things. It’s funny, I sort of
hold on to this illusion that I’m younger than I am, but then I think about how dramatically
things have changed. When I was here everybody in the dorm had a responsibility to work at the
switch board and so what that meant, and this was antiquated even then, I remember people
would come in, and look and I don't know if you have seen the old reruns where they have the
little things that you would poke in the hole. So, each room had a phone, but that didn’t dial
anywhere but the front desk. So if someone came to the front desk, if you had a visitor, they
would ring your room and you would answer and they would say that you had a visitor. Or if you
had a phone call they would tell you “you have a phone call” and then you would be directed you
to go down the hall where the actual phone was. So, you had to do your two hours of this desk
duty to get your phone calls. And what I remember then too is that, that was before the 210
freeway. So, even though I grew up in Pasadena and it’s maybe a forty minute drive now, without
the 210 freeway, it was a very long drive. And part of my reason for coming to Scripps was that I
wanted to be far enough from home to live on campus, but go home on those occasions that I
wanted to. But it was, people had cars, I had a car my junior and senior years. But part of that,
once you were in Claremont, you were pretty much in Claremont. Whatever wasn’t in walking
distance, you didn’t go. So I sort of appreciate that now. I think you guys get off campus a little
bit more, to cultural things, whether its the Getty of the Huntington or a play or some event
worth going to in, you know, Los Angeles and the surrounding area.
CP: Yeah so, why was it that you did choose Scripps? Was it that it was close and did the fact
that it was a women's college effect positively or negatively that decision?
BB: Um, its interesting because I realize what the politically correct thing is to say, but the fact
that it was a women’s college had no weight in my decision whatsoever. It was, had it been a
women’s college, isolated without the other colleges, I don’t think I would have come. In high
school I had all of the football games, loved all of that, thought it was fun, but I didn’t
necessarily need to be a part of my college. So, I don’t feel that I missed that. Um, but yeah, just
the fact that it was a women’s college was neither positive or negative.
CP: And do you think that was true for most of your friends there at the time?
BB: No, I think there were. Some were aware that there were some things that it offered. That
being a women’s college was a positive for them. I did have a friend that when I told her about it
and she found out that it was a women’s college she was like “no.” She had gone to a women’s
high school and she had had enough of that single sex environment.
CP: Retrospectively do you think that there was anything positive or negative about you
attending a women’s college?
BB: You know, I think what was positive about attending Scripps is that it was a small college.
And I think that there was something about its environment as a women’s college that is healthy
and nurturing, but I don’t think I was aware of that at the time. I think there have been studies
that suggest that women, in an environment with other women, are less likely to hold back and I
think it contributes to their learning in a positive way, which is why I continue to support the
college as an adult. Not something Id ever thought I would do.
CP: Could you tell us a little bit about your role that you play in the college’s life these days?
[11:00]
BB: Yeah. I think when I left I was more than ready to leave. No intentions of going to grad
school, I was pregnant with my son at the time. So, I graduated in June and delivered in July. So,
I sort of had some urgent things to take care of, I was more than ready. I had had enough of the
academic environment. For a long time I wasn't involved or kept abreast in what was happening
in Claremont or Scripps and gradually I would run into people I knew or hear things about the
college and I’d venture back once every five years. Or I’d make a donation every ten years, but
little by little I ran into people and I thought, “you know we really could do something.” Maybe
get alumnae together and interact with the students, we could maybe support the Lewis
Scholarship, which was a professor who was here when I attended. So, little by little, these kinda
small things got me more involved, more consciously involved. I contribute financially, I am
involved in alumnae student gatherings. I’m sort of receptive if there is anything Scripps
proposes if there is a gathering at some cultural event, which is what led me to be on the board of
trustees, and its still very new as I mentioned to you. It’s a new role I’ve assumed, but I’m very
pleased to participate in that way.
CP: What is your job outside of helping out with the board of trustees?
BB: I did, but I don’t now. I retired early in 2002, which I think is part of being more active in
Scripps. I have the free time to do it. I do some volunteer work as a children’s advocate for the
children’s court as its called, a court appointed special advocate. So, I do that on a volunteer
basis and some other things that I do of my own choosing.
CP: And what was your career after?
BB: Oh yeah, I was going to mention that. I was a pharmaceutical sales rep for about twentythree
years and so it was a good fit with my major, human biology.
CP: Awesome. So since you mentioned your child, what was sort of the dating scene and the
culture of boys being on campus back during college for you?
BB: It was sort of interesting, because you heard all of these things that were in maybe just a few
years prior to my arriving. All of these scary restrictions, but this was the 70’s and the pendulum
was at the far opposite of the spectrum. To give you an example, I remember some alumnae
telling me that at one point, if you had a male visitor, your door had to be open at all times if they
were in your room and that there had to be three feet on the floor. Ok, so that was kind of
peculiar. The only rule that I remember is that if you had a guest they couldn't stay more than
four consecutive nights. So, that was, I imagine, that was violated more than it was enforced.
CP: And did you have boyfriends?
BB: I did.
CP: Was that pretty common for Scripps students and did he attend the 5C’s?
BB: Yes, he attended Claremont Men’s College, what’s now Claremont McKenna and yeah I
think that there’s sort of a healthy intermingling of people from the five colleges. I also could go
home and stayed in touch with people I knew from home.
CP: And you mentioned it being the 70s. Could you talk about the political atmosphere on the
campuses a little bit?
BB: Yeah. I think, and I’ve never really documented this, but when I came there was I think there
was a conscious outreach to recruit more African American students, five college wide. I think it
was a result of some sort of activism, numbers declined thereafter and that was kind of
discouraging because in the 80’s. I mean there were really literally a handful, it seems that I
recall at one point a Scripps there were a handful of women of color, and that’s if you threw in
the women who were returning after a stint in the workforce. I’m happy to see that that’s
changing. I think more needs to be done to insure that the student population is diverse as well as
the faculty.
CP: How do you feel that being an African American woman at the Claremont Colleges affected
your time here...I don’t know if you are familiar, but there are something called CLORGS now
and SCORE, where there is an African American group there for support or talking. Were there
those sorts of groups when you were there?
[16:23]
BB: No, there wasn't. There was a large enough group. I remember in my dorm there were
maybe a dozen African American women and fewer at each of the other dorms. So, we sort of
supported and encouraged each other and we would sometimes congregate with black students
from either CMC or Pomona and Pitzer, but there wasn’t a single source at Scripps that offered
the kind of support you get now from Score or other areas.
CP: And was Scripps diverse racially from other groups as well? Like were there lots of Asian
students on the campus at the time, or not so much?
BB: Um I don’t know that lots, there were certainly some. Probably nowhere near reflective of
the population at large. And that’s my sense because I can’t really know.
CP: And did you get that sense about the other colleges as well?
BB: I think Pomona, because it was bigger, might have had more, but not necessarily
proportionally more. So, I don’t really know. Harvey Mudd certainly had very few women, few
African Americans. I didn’t spend a lot of time on their campus. It was newer too.
CP: And earlier you mentioned sports a little bit and you were obviously in college right after
Title 9 had passed. Was there sort of a shift that you saw with women in sports? Were there
sports teams were they sort of taking advantage of that?
BB: I would say no, but maybe that was just reflective of my experience, because I had an
interest in gymnastics in high school, but I didn’t pursue it here at Scripps and there was nothing
like the really nice center you have now. I think there might have been a pool, but I couldn’t tell
you where it was and I don’t know that there was an emphasis on athletics at Scripps. Now, there
may have been athletic options off campus.
CP: So people weren’t congregating at sports games. Where were they congregating, either to do
work or parties? What was that sort of scene?
BB: I think that parties just depended on whichever college that weekend chose to have an event.
There was a big emphasis on keggers, and not being a beer drinker that had no appeal for me.
CP: So there was alcohol sort of readily available?
BB: You know, I assume, I mean I just heard it and I don't know and I dint partake. It didn’t seem
like anything of particular interest for me. But otherwise socially you know the motley had just
come into view, just came into being, so it was much smaller than it is currently, so there was
maybe a little bit of congregating there and other than that I don’t know. That’s a good question.
CP: So you mostly did work in your room or in your dorm? That sort of thing?
BB: Mhm. In my room, in the dorm, possibly in someone else room, and the library. More
Honald than Denison, I don’t know why.
CP: How visible, if at all, were the gay and lesbian communities on campus? Did you know
anyone out? Were there many people out that you heard of?
BB: I knew more gay people that were openly gay. And lesbian, I don’t recall knowing anybody.
So, I don’t think it was open then as it is now.
[20:34]
CP: Was there sort of a feminist vibe on campus at the time? Either in your classes or politically?
Were people active in that sort of scene?
BB: I think so. I think, I want to say, Ms. Magazine came into being around that time. It could be
that I just became aware of it then. So yeah, I definitely think there was a lot of activism around
the feminist issues.
CP: And were you involved in those at all?
BB: Um, I would not say at an active level, but more of an awareness. That was part the wide
area that I was educated.
CP: So you said you were a human biology major. Were there mostly men in that major as well?
What were those classes like?
BB: So, the science classes I took there were mostly, not just biology majors, premed majors. So
they took a lot of seriousness that I confess I didn’t have. Another interesting thing that we had
when I was here at Scripps was that we didn’t have grades and we didn’t have just pass/fail,
which is what some institutions that didn’t have grades have. What we had were comments and
it’s interesting because it sounds so good in theory and then to have a professor get to know you
and write a paragraph or more on your performance, but the reality is I don’t think they can keep
up. The comments would get to be pretty meaningless. Sometimes they would be “The student
did A work.” You know just give me an A and forget about, it if that’s all you can come up with.
So anyway, I cant remember what you said that triggered that. Oh, you were talking about the
sciences. I would say in my classes there were a good number of men and women. Maybe not
equal, but there were certainly a significant amount of women pursuing the sciences.
CP: And those were from the 3Cs? Pitzer, Claremont McKenna, and Scripps?
BB: Yeah I think so. I may have had a science class outside of the Joint Sciences, but I can’t
recall for sure. But, I know that it put me in classes with people who were interested in becoming
doctors, something I wasn’t. So, there was a very hard-core, competitive element sometimes that
could be a little bit intimidating.
CP: And did you ever make a conscious effort to register for classes off of Scripps campus and
outside of the Joint Science department just sort of to get off campus? Or were you more
interested in staying on Scripps?
BB: You know what, it wasn’t to get off campus. It was just like, “here are the array of classes
that are available” and if it was at Pitzer that’s fine, if it was at Scripps that’s fine. Wherever the
class that I wanted to take was, then that’s where I took it. And probably some of the, I don’t
know why exactly that this is, but some of the most impactful classes I had were two classes I
remember taking at Pitzer.
CP: What were those classes? Do you remember?
BB: Yeah I do. One was called “Who Gets the Goodies.”
CP: That’s awesome.
BB: Yeah and she said the serious title of this would be social stratification, but that’s what it was
called. But it was really an interesting class. There are concepts I learned in that class that, I
think, stick with me to this day. And the other one I took at Pitzer also was called Sociology of
Health and Medicine and that was really another excellent class and unknowingly I think it
prepared me for my eventual career.
CP: Did you go abroad while you were at Scripps?
BB: No. I actually wanted to, but when the time came I opted not to.
CP: Did many people go abroad and was it an easy process to do? Do you know?
BB: I can tell you that there were people I know that went abroad, but they didn’t necessarily do
a year in Spain that would be conventional. There was world campus afloat, through Chapman
College. So that they cruised a number of countries for a semester, and I considered it, but I think
that their semester classes didn’t translate exactly to Scripps four units. I think they had three
units and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice and double up on my classes after I got back in order to
account for that difference.
[25:31]
CP: Mhm. So four classes were a pretty standard load at Scripps at that time?
BB: Mhm. I think so.
CP: Do you remember anything in particular that was memorable that you read? Like a book for
a class?
BB: Um, I’m sure there must because I was a really big reader. But the only thing that stands out
was I think I subscribed to psychology today and I used to read that regularly. It’s something I
probably haven’t read seriously since I got of campus. Yeah, I cant really think if there was any
particular. I mean I have an interest, generally speaking, in literature, African American
literature, that I maintained as an adult.
CP: Ok, so lets move on to culture a little bit. What was fashion like back then? What were
people wearing on Scripps campus?
BB: Well denim was as big then as it is now. The 70’s was a pretty ugly era you know, platforms
and bellbottoms. Yeah, so you know, the low-waisted. I’m thinking a lot of the stuff they do
today. But I did like the fact that it was uber-casual. You could pretty much, you know, wear
jeans to anything. Let’s see if anything else stands out. And again that was sort of a contradiction,
you know people sort of equate Scripps with pearls and tea and in the 70’s I don’t even
remember going to a tea at that point.
CP: So there weren’t any sort of dress code rules when you were attending Scripps?
BB: I don’t remember any. I remember I must say though that I loved the idea of living and then
waking up and its like, “ugh I only have twenty minutes to get ready for class” and then, you
know, doing what you could do in ten minutes and then walking over. So, that’s sort of a
privileged that I’m glad that I took advantage of. I suspect that if I had stayed at home and gone
to the local junior college or even a college within driving distance of home, I might have been
more organized because I would have had to be, but I sort of liked the freedom that came from
being on a residential campus.
CP: What sort of music were you listening to those days?
BB: Uh, you mean artists?
CP: Anything.
BB: I mean rhythm and blues. A lot of Ohio Players, that always stands up because I remember
the album covers. And I would have to say it was an ugly period for fashion, but a good period
for music.
CP: You talked about tea a little bit, not remembering going to it. Where there any sort of
traditions on campus that you do remember or like were particularly fond of?
BB: I think that Scripps might be more traditions based now. I remember as a freshman they
woke you up as some sort of initiation with pots and pans and would sing this song. I’m sort of
happy that stuff went by the wayside. I’m assuming that went by the wayside, I don’t really
know. I cant remember, but I’m sure I’ll remember after the camera stops rolling. But I have an
appreciation for the things like tea and exhibits and one of my interests now is that I love to go to
gardens. And I think that’s somehow influenced that Scripps is such a lovely campus and living
here for four years sort of instilled that.
CP: Did you go to many cultural or art events on campus during your time here?
[30:09]
BB: I think so. I think that I would deliberately seek out things. I mean I wasn’t an art major or
didn’t have any particular creativity along those lines, but I sort of liked to see what was offered.
And I do that even now.
CP: That’s nice. Do you remember any sort of specific world events going on and how those
affected the campus during your time at Scripps?
BB: I remember, and this is a good example of my naïveté, I think that’s when the voting age
went from 21 to 18. I guess we need to tell candidate Perry that. I guess he had a slip lately and
said something about the voting age being 21.
CP: Yes.
BB: Ok and I remember thinking that McGovern was going to win, because everybody was
going to vote for McGovern, because I see it everywhere I go and what’s the big deal. And it
didn’t occur to me that although I see that where I go, I don’t go very far outside of the bounds of
the college. So that was a good lesson for me, that if you are going to formulate an opinion you
need to do that based on a wide spread observations. You can’t stay in a little narrow area and
make assumptions about the greater world.
CP: So was Scripps pretty political with elections or did it stay pretty neutral?
BB: I think that Scripps, like any college, had a core of politically active and informed students. I
don’t know if that was a reflection of students overall.
CP: Mhm and you said you didn’t get to much further outside than the bounds of the college. Did
you ever go into the village? What was the village like in those days?
BB: Oh gosh I can remember the village. It was so small and had that one little movie theatre and
its an entirely different place now, but there were just a few restaurants and the one movie theatre
as I said. And we would walk there and it was kind of charming, I liked it. I think the Danson
was established in the 70s so, it was there as it still is now. I remember in terms of national, not
political, but it was a phenomena, streaking was big. So yeah, there were those events. Even now
if you look at my year in one of the yearbooks, one of the dorms took a series of pictures of some
of the students naked. It’s very well done and very tasteful, but it’s just kind of interesting that
that was on of those trends that thankfully was short lived.
CP: So is that what you would do on the weekends? Go into the village? Those sorts of things?
BB: I’d go into the village or occasionally I’d go home. Maybe once a month, once every six
weeks, always taking laundry with me when I went. Lets see, what else? You know if there were
parties I’d go to parties, but usually local. Sometimes I had friends who left Claremont to
socialize, I didn’t do that very often I don’t think. That’s about it.
CP: Did they talk about the Claremont bubble back then? I know that’s how they sort of refer to
it these days.
BB: I don’t remember that terminology, but I suspect we were all kind of aware of it.
CP: So when you were at Scripps you said you didn’t really imagine yourself going into biology
and those sorts of things just caught you by surprise. What did you sort of imagine your life
being like after graduation when you were at Scripps?
BB: I wish that I had been as far thinking as some of the students that I encountered. I had no
idea. I don’t think I finally decided on my major until junior year. I just didn’t know, but I did
like the idea that, what I knew for sure at the time that I came to Scripps, was that the idea of
being at a place where I could read uninterrupted and without disapproval was very close to
heaven for me. And you know I had family that was very supportive of education, particularly
college education. And I credit my mother because I’ve mentioned this before that she was hard
working, both my parents were. She never paid retail if she could get something discounted or on
sale. We were considering the cost of college and I thought well maybe I should just go to the
local college for two more years, come to Scripps or somewhere else after that. And she was
absolutely appalled that I thought that way and she was like “we have always considered this
something worthwhile, an education, your education we will make the necessary sacrifices
financially to make that a reality and so if you want to go to four year college go to four year
college.” So I was really appreciative of that. Even thinking about that now she was far more
foresighted than I was at the time.
[35:47]
CP: And were they both college educated as well?
BB: Neither.
CP: So were you the first one in your family to go to college?
BB: Um I’m one of four sisters. I’m the only one to have completed college. I think that’s
probably accurate to say at least in my immediate family.
CP: That’s impressive. And do you feel like Scripps did a good job preparing you for the real
world as it was?
BB: I think Scripps did a lot of good things for me but I wouldn’t say preparing me for the real
world one of my harshest criticisms of Scripps at the time, which has since been corrected. When
I was looking for a job I would sneak into UCLA’s library and look at their job listings and I just
don’t think that there was anything comparable at Scripps in terms of preparation for
employment. So I think what Scripps did do though was give me the confidence to seek out what
I needed to do in terms of making life decisions and career decisions and interacting with people
in a way that allowed me to do….I’ll be honest with you, as a pharmaceutical sales rep there are
a lot of things that are required of you that’s not my nature, I’m not by nature particularly
comfortable socially interacting with people I don’t know well. So I really had to work to you
know master those social skills. And I think in a lot of ways Scripps did that kind of preparation.
Not the real world stuff, that I had to learn after graduation.
CP: And do you have any particular memories of Scripps that stand out in your mind? Any
particular fond memories?
BB: I think I do. I think I look fondly back at Scripps overall. Hard to identify any specifics. And
since I’ve never been anywhere else, I have not been to graduate school or to any other college
other than as a visitor I look at that four years as pivotal to forming who I am and what I value
today. Would I have gotten that somewhere else? It’s possible. I don’t think Scripps is necessarily
best for everybody but I think it has a lot to offer the student who seeks out the kind of
environment it provides.
CP: I think that’s about it. Do you have anything else that you’d like to add that you haven’t had
a chance to talk about?
BB: I can’t think of anything. I mean I’m sure in retrospect there will be something I wish I’d
said but I do think that a lot of what I value currently, what is important to me, I mean you have
your career and what you do to make a living and then you have the things you devote your time
to post career. So I’m lucky in that I retired before I turned fifty.
CP: Oh wow that’s impressive.
BB: Well, it was a combination of luck and being at the right place at the right time. And so,
what that meant for me, I mean I like to travel, I like to visit gardens as I mentioned to you, but
also the volunteer work I do as a child advocate. I work with foster children, but I make
recommendations to the judge who ultimately decides whether that child gets placed back with
their family or in a different situation. I’ve gotten involved with the Carter Center and been very
impressed with that. I’m a donor; I’m not in any way employed. I visit there once a year, but I
was so impressed with the kind of work they did, so I sort of made a connection between Scripps
and the Carter Center. And so I sponsor a student from Scripps to attend the Carter Center at their
executive briefing and the idea came to me because, as they were informing their donors of what
they did, it was so aligned with my major when I majored in human biology that I thought a
student from Scripps could benefit from this, because they learn about how a nonprofit can make
an impact on the world in a very responsible and not patronizing way. And at one point I did
some research on Ellen Browning Scripps and she was particularly far sighted. I mean you think
of the period when she lived and to establish this institution, to use words that resonate today as
it did when this college was founded. So gosh, I feel like I’m talking nonstop forever. Forgive
me, but I value that and I think that that holds up and that’s worthwhile in the 21st century as it
was in the 20th.
[41:29]
CP: Thank you so much for coming here today.
BB: Sure, I’m glad to talk about it because it makes me think.
CP: Yeah you seem very happy when you are talking about it, which is inspiring.
BB: Well tell me I’d like to hear a little about the two of you.
MR: Well if you don’t mind me asking, how was it being pregnant while you were at Scripps?
BB: I can remember writing my thesis and going down the hall to throw up and then going back
to writing my thesis. I was petrified that I wasn’t going to graduate. It may be not frowned upon
quite to the extent it was in the 50’s or 60’s, but I knew I couldn’t disappoint my family and not
graduate. There was too much invested financially and otherwise. So yeah, I can remember going
to the registrars office, and I guess I had done it on more than once, and she was like “You are on
track to graduate, it hasn’t changed since the last time you came here, you are going to graduate.”
Because I knew I’d completed the thesis, I just didn’t want there to be like, “oh gosh you didn’t
take this, you didn’t complete this class.” I had nightmares about it, so the line between reality
and nightmares was blurred. So yeah, it was a bit of a challenge.
MR: Was there support in place? Like was there like a health center or something like that?
BB: Yeah there was a health center, but I don’t think I took advantage of it to that degree. It’s a
good thing that, you know, I was young, I was healthy.
[43:42]

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

[00:07]
CP: So, I’m Claire and can you tell us your name.
BB: Sure, Barbara Bruner Class of ‘76.
CP: Where are you coming from today?
BB: Pasadena, where there has been a tremendous windstorm and I was without power for a
while but everything is cool now so that’s good.
CP: And how does it feel to be back on campus today?
BB: You know, well not so much today because I just parked and came over, but when I come
back to the campus I’m always impressed that some things have changed a lot, but some things
are the same. It’s still a really beautiful campus. It’s almost comforting to walk on campus.
CP: And what have you noticed that’s changed over the years?
BB: I was here in the 70’s like I said ‘72 to ‘76 and the dorms were sort of their own entity. Each
dorm had their own dining hall. So, Malott commons didn’t exist and of course the new dorms
didn’t exist and it made for a different kind of a feel. I get the sense that there is more of a whole
college cohesiveness. That was a little bit different, people had a sort of allegiance to their
particular dorm when I was coming here. But I think that’s a positive thing
CP: So did you live in the same dorm all four years?
BB: I did. I lived in what’s called Clark hall now. It was called Grace Scripps then. I loved it
because it’s beautiful.
CP: Yeah it’s a really nice dorm. Where there sort of stereotypes to the certain dorms? Did
certain people live in certain dorms?
BB: You know I didn’t get that sense, although some people say that. There are certainly
stereotypes to the colleges though. I was more aware of that.
CP: And you talked about eating in the dining halls within the certain dorms. Did you usually eat
in Clark hall or did you go from dorm to dorm?
BB: More often than not I would eat in the dining hall in the residence hall where I lived, in
Grace Scripps, but if I ate outside I would usually eat off campus. I don’t remember much now,
but maybe at Pomona or CMC. I think Pomona had an excellent brunch so we were usually lured
over there on the weekends.
CP: And did you spend much time of the other campuses?
BB: I did. I was a human biology major, so I took a lot of my courses through what was then
Joint Sciences which I guess is Keck now, and a couple classes on Pitzer’s campus. So anywhere
that held a particular interest for me.
CP: What did you notice about the sort of differences then between Pitzer and Scripps? Was
Pitzer still…
BB: Pitzer was coed at the time I was here and Pitzer was viewed then similar to the way it is
viewed now. It is a very liberal, sort of a freewheeling newer institution.
CP: So you took classes at Pitzer and you said CMC or Pomona?
BB: No, Pomona. Pitzer, Pomona, and then Joint Sciences. So, whoever took credit for that.
CP: Yeah and what did you feel like? You said Pitzer sort of seemed freewheeling and liberal,
what do you think Scripps was perceived as at the time?
BB: Um, a little more regimented, I don't even know if that’s the correct word but, there was a
sense of a more formalized curriculum. Which I guess still exists. Pitzer was perceived that you
could pursue any interest that was outside of your major. I also think that, incorrectly, Scripps
had a bit of a finishing school kind of image.
CP: And how was it being a woman in the sciences back then. Where there lots of biology
majors and science majors from Scripps?
BB: You know what, I don't know about lots. There were some, there were many. I’m
encouraged that science is more of a viable option here at Scripps than it was then. And for me it
was purely accidental. I was not that interested in the sciences and it sort of came about the more
classes I took. I failed the Principles of Natural Science initially, the only class in my life I ever
recall failing, but I just wasn't interested. But I took a biology class at the local junior college and
I actually sort of liked it so I ended up taking more classes and ended up majoring in human
biology as a result of discovering that sort of dormant interest.
CP: And was that a major on the campuses at the time or was that a self designed major?
BB: It was it was actually a major and it was kind of interesting in that that we had a substantial
set of humanities requirements then. Scripps still does, but I think even then there were more
courses required. I don't remember exactly how many were required. And then human biology as
a major, I think most majors required 8 courses, but human biology required, I want to say 12, I
never counted them up, but it wasn't just biology. It was biology, anthropology sociology, and
psychology. So you had to take intro in each of those divisions and then upper division classes.
So it worked out well for me
CP: So what do you remember about the core program? I know when I come back in however
many years I will be like ‘Oh core!’ So what was the core program like back then?
[6:02]
BB: It was interesting. I remember there was some colloquium of music and and a number of
cross disciplines and for some reason I didn’t get into that course and I really wanted to. So I sort
of did a humanities of my own choosing, but I always felt like I missed that, that colloquium
course that everyone talked about that was so rigorous and so hard. I don't know how I cobbled
together an assortment of other humanities courses that fulfilled the requirement. You know, I
liked it. I think I came to college with sort of no particular interest, but interests in a variety of
things and so it was nice to be exposed to a little bit of everything.
CP: So, lets talk about the everyday culture at Scripps. What do you remember about that?
BB: Well, I was thinking as I drove over here. There were a lot of little things. It’s funny, I sort of
hold on to this illusion that I’m younger than I am, but then I think about how dramatically
things have changed. When I was here everybody in the dorm had a responsibility to work at the
switch board and so what that meant, and this was antiquated even then, I remember people
would come in, and look and I don't know if you have seen the old reruns where they have the
little things that you would poke in the hole. So, each room had a phone, but that didn’t dial
anywhere but the front desk. So if someone came to the front desk, if you had a visitor, they
would ring your room and you would answer and they would say that you had a visitor. Or if you
had a phone call they would tell you “you have a phone call” and then you would be directed you
to go down the hall where the actual phone was. So, you had to do your two hours of this desk
duty to get your phone calls. And what I remember then too is that, that was before the 210
freeway. So, even though I grew up in Pasadena and it’s maybe a forty minute drive now, without
the 210 freeway, it was a very long drive. And part of my reason for coming to Scripps was that I
wanted to be far enough from home to live on campus, but go home on those occasions that I
wanted to. But it was, people had cars, I had a car my junior and senior years. But part of that,
once you were in Claremont, you were pretty much in Claremont. Whatever wasn’t in walking
distance, you didn’t go. So I sort of appreciate that now. I think you guys get off campus a little
bit more, to cultural things, whether its the Getty of the Huntington or a play or some event
worth going to in, you know, Los Angeles and the surrounding area.
CP: Yeah so, why was it that you did choose Scripps? Was it that it was close and did the fact
that it was a women's college effect positively or negatively that decision?
BB: Um, its interesting because I realize what the politically correct thing is to say, but the fact
that it was a women’s college had no weight in my decision whatsoever. It was, had it been a
women’s college, isolated without the other colleges, I don’t think I would have come. In high
school I had all of the football games, loved all of that, thought it was fun, but I didn’t
necessarily need to be a part of my college. So, I don’t feel that I missed that. Um, but yeah, just
the fact that it was a women’s college was neither positive or negative.
CP: And do you think that was true for most of your friends there at the time?
BB: No, I think there were. Some were aware that there were some things that it offered. That
being a women’s college was a positive for them. I did have a friend that when I told her about it
and she found out that it was a women’s college she was like “no.” She had gone to a women’s
high school and she had had enough of that single sex environment.
CP: Retrospectively do you think that there was anything positive or negative about you
attending a women’s college?
BB: You know, I think what was positive about attending Scripps is that it was a small college.
And I think that there was something about its environment as a women’s college that is healthy
and nurturing, but I don’t think I was aware of that at the time. I think there have been studies
that suggest that women, in an environment with other women, are less likely to hold back and I
think it contributes to their learning in a positive way, which is why I continue to support the
college as an adult. Not something Id ever thought I would do.
CP: Could you tell us a little bit about your role that you play in the college’s life these days?
[11:00]
BB: Yeah. I think when I left I was more than ready to leave. No intentions of going to grad
school, I was pregnant with my son at the time. So, I graduated in June and delivered in July. So,
I sort of had some urgent things to take care of, I was more than ready. I had had enough of the
academic environment. For a long time I wasn't involved or kept abreast in what was happening
in Claremont or Scripps and gradually I would run into people I knew or hear things about the
college and I’d venture back once every five years. Or I’d make a donation every ten years, but
little by little I ran into people and I thought, “you know we really could do something.” Maybe
get alumnae together and interact with the students, we could maybe support the Lewis
Scholarship, which was a professor who was here when I attended. So, little by little, these kinda
small things got me more involved, more consciously involved. I contribute financially, I am
involved in alumnae student gatherings. I’m sort of receptive if there is anything Scripps
proposes if there is a gathering at some cultural event, which is what led me to be on the board of
trustees, and its still very new as I mentioned to you. It’s a new role I’ve assumed, but I’m very
pleased to participate in that way.
CP: What is your job outside of helping out with the board of trustees?
BB: I did, but I don’t now. I retired early in 2002, which I think is part of being more active in
Scripps. I have the free time to do it. I do some volunteer work as a children’s advocate for the
children’s court as its called, a court appointed special advocate. So, I do that on a volunteer
basis and some other things that I do of my own choosing.
CP: And what was your career after?
BB: Oh yeah, I was going to mention that. I was a pharmaceutical sales rep for about twentythree
years and so it was a good fit with my major, human biology.
CP: Awesome. So since you mentioned your child, what was sort of the dating scene and the
culture of boys being on campus back during college for you?
BB: It was sort of interesting, because you heard all of these things that were in maybe just a few
years prior to my arriving. All of these scary restrictions, but this was the 70’s and the pendulum
was at the far opposite of the spectrum. To give you an example, I remember some alumnae
telling me that at one point, if you had a male visitor, your door had to be open at all times if they
were in your room and that there had to be three feet on the floor. Ok, so that was kind of
peculiar. The only rule that I remember is that if you had a guest they couldn't stay more than
four consecutive nights. So, that was, I imagine, that was violated more than it was enforced.
CP: And did you have boyfriends?
BB: I did.
CP: Was that pretty common for Scripps students and did he attend the 5C’s?
BB: Yes, he attended Claremont Men’s College, what’s now Claremont McKenna and yeah I
think that there’s sort of a healthy intermingling of people from the five colleges. I also could go
home and stayed in touch with people I knew from home.
CP: And you mentioned it being the 70s. Could you talk about the political atmosphere on the
campuses a little bit?
BB: Yeah. I think, and I’ve never really documented this, but when I came there was I think there
was a conscious outreach to recruit more African American students, five college wide. I think it
was a result of some sort of activism, numbers declined thereafter and that was kind of
discouraging because in the 80’s. I mean there were really literally a handful, it seems that I
recall at one point a Scripps there were a handful of women of color, and that’s if you threw in
the women who were returning after a stint in the workforce. I’m happy to see that that’s
changing. I think more needs to be done to insure that the student population is diverse as well as
the faculty.
CP: How do you feel that being an African American woman at the Claremont Colleges affected
your time here...I don’t know if you are familiar, but there are something called CLORGS now
and SCORE, where there is an African American group there for support or talking. Were there
those sorts of groups when you were there?
[16:23]
BB: No, there wasn't. There was a large enough group. I remember in my dorm there were
maybe a dozen African American women and fewer at each of the other dorms. So, we sort of
supported and encouraged each other and we would sometimes congregate with black students
from either CMC or Pomona and Pitzer, but there wasn’t a single source at Scripps that offered
the kind of support you get now from Score or other areas.
CP: And was Scripps diverse racially from other groups as well? Like were there lots of Asian
students on the campus at the time, or not so much?
BB: Um I don’t know that lots, there were certainly some. Probably nowhere near reflective of
the population at large. And that’s my sense because I can’t really know.
CP: And did you get that sense about the other colleges as well?
BB: I think Pomona, because it was bigger, might have had more, but not necessarily
proportionally more. So, I don’t really know. Harvey Mudd certainly had very few women, few
African Americans. I didn’t spend a lot of time on their campus. It was newer too.
CP: And earlier you mentioned sports a little bit and you were obviously in college right after
Title 9 had passed. Was there sort of a shift that you saw with women in sports? Were there
sports teams were they sort of taking advantage of that?
BB: I would say no, but maybe that was just reflective of my experience, because I had an
interest in gymnastics in high school, but I didn’t pursue it here at Scripps and there was nothing
like the really nice center you have now. I think there might have been a pool, but I couldn’t tell
you where it was and I don’t know that there was an emphasis on athletics at Scripps. Now, there
may have been athletic options off campus.
CP: So people weren’t congregating at sports games. Where were they congregating, either to do
work or parties? What was that sort of scene?
BB: I think that parties just depended on whichever college that weekend chose to have an event.
There was a big emphasis on keggers, and not being a beer drinker that had no appeal for me.
CP: So there was alcohol sort of readily available?
BB: You know, I assume, I mean I just heard it and I don't know and I dint partake. It didn’t seem
like anything of particular interest for me. But otherwise socially you know the motley had just
come into view, just came into being, so it was much smaller than it is currently, so there was
maybe a little bit of congregating there and other than that I don’t know. That’s a good question.
CP: So you mostly did work in your room or in your dorm? That sort of thing?
BB: Mhm. In my room, in the dorm, possibly in someone else room, and the library. More
Honald than Denison, I don’t know why.
CP: How visible, if at all, were the gay and lesbian communities on campus? Did you know
anyone out? Were there many people out that you heard of?
BB: I knew more gay people that were openly gay. And lesbian, I don’t recall knowing anybody.
So, I don’t think it was open then as it is now.
[20:34]
CP: Was there sort of a feminist vibe on campus at the time? Either in your classes or politically?
Were people active in that sort of scene?
BB: I think so. I think, I want to say, Ms. Magazine came into being around that time. It could be
that I just became aware of it then. So yeah, I definitely think there was a lot of activism around
the feminist issues.
CP: And were you involved in those at all?
BB: Um, I would not say at an active level, but more of an awareness. That was part the wide
area that I was educated.
CP: So you said you were a human biology major. Were there mostly men in that major as well?
What were those classes like?
BB: So, the science classes I took there were mostly, not just biology majors, premed majors. So
they took a lot of seriousness that I confess I didn’t have. Another interesting thing that we had
when I was here at Scripps was that we didn’t have grades and we didn’t have just pass/fail,
which is what some institutions that didn’t have grades have. What we had were comments and
it’s interesting because it sounds so good in theory and then to have a professor get to know you
and write a paragraph or more on your performance, but the reality is I don’t think they can keep
up. The comments would get to be pretty meaningless. Sometimes they would be “The student
did A work.” You know just give me an A and forget about, it if that’s all you can come up with.
So anyway, I cant remember what you said that triggered that. Oh, you were talking about the
sciences. I would say in my classes there were a good number of men and women. Maybe not
equal, but there were certainly a significant amount of women pursuing the sciences.
CP: And those were from the 3Cs? Pitzer, Claremont McKenna, and Scripps?
BB: Yeah I think so. I may have had a science class outside of the Joint Sciences, but I can’t
recall for sure. But, I know that it put me in classes with people who were interested in becoming
doctors, something I wasn’t. So, there was a very hard-core, competitive element sometimes that
could be a little bit intimidating.
CP: And did you ever make a conscious effort to register for classes off of Scripps campus and
outside of the Joint Science department just sort of to get off campus? Or were you more
interested in staying on Scripps?
BB: You know what, it wasn’t to get off campus. It was just like, “here are the array of classes
that are available” and if it was at Pitzer that’s fine, if it was at Scripps that’s fine. Wherever the
class that I wanted to take was, then that’s where I took it. And probably some of the, I don’t
know why exactly that this is, but some of the most impactful classes I had were two classes I
remember taking at Pitzer.
CP: What were those classes? Do you remember?
BB: Yeah I do. One was called “Who Gets the Goodies.”
CP: That’s awesome.
BB: Yeah and she said the serious title of this would be social stratification, but that’s what it was
called. But it was really an interesting class. There are concepts I learned in that class that, I
think, stick with me to this day. And the other one I took at Pitzer also was called Sociology of
Health and Medicine and that was really another excellent class and unknowingly I think it
prepared me for my eventual career.
CP: Did you go abroad while you were at Scripps?
BB: No. I actually wanted to, but when the time came I opted not to.
CP: Did many people go abroad and was it an easy process to do? Do you know?
BB: I can tell you that there were people I know that went abroad, but they didn’t necessarily do
a year in Spain that would be conventional. There was world campus afloat, through Chapman
College. So that they cruised a number of countries for a semester, and I considered it, but I think
that their semester classes didn’t translate exactly to Scripps four units. I think they had three
units and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice and double up on my classes after I got back in order to
account for that difference.
[25:31]
CP: Mhm. So four classes were a pretty standard load at Scripps at that time?
BB: Mhm. I think so.
CP: Do you remember anything in particular that was memorable that you read? Like a book for
a class?
BB: Um, I’m sure there must because I was a really big reader. But the only thing that stands out
was I think I subscribed to psychology today and I used to read that regularly. It’s something I
probably haven’t read seriously since I got of campus. Yeah, I cant really think if there was any
particular. I mean I have an interest, generally speaking, in literature, African American
literature, that I maintained as an adult.
CP: Ok, so lets move on to culture a little bit. What was fashion like back then? What were
people wearing on Scripps campus?
BB: Well denim was as big then as it is now. The 70’s was a pretty ugly era you know, platforms
and bellbottoms. Yeah, so you know, the low-waisted. I’m thinking a lot of the stuff they do
today. But I did like the fact that it was uber-casual. You could pretty much, you know, wear
jeans to anything. Let’s see if anything else stands out. And again that was sort of a contradiction,
you know people sort of equate Scripps with pearls and tea and in the 70’s I don’t even
remember going to a tea at that point.
CP: So there weren’t any sort of dress code rules when you were attending Scripps?
BB: I don’t remember any. I remember I must say though that I loved the idea of living and then
waking up and its like, “ugh I only have twenty minutes to get ready for class” and then, you
know, doing what you could do in ten minutes and then walking over. So, that’s sort of a
privileged that I’m glad that I took advantage of. I suspect that if I had stayed at home and gone
to the local junior college or even a college within driving distance of home, I might have been
more organized because I would have had to be, but I sort of liked the freedom that came from
being on a residential campus.
CP: What sort of music were you listening to those days?
BB: Uh, you mean artists?
CP: Anything.
BB: I mean rhythm and blues. A lot of Ohio Players, that always stands up because I remember
the album covers. And I would have to say it was an ugly period for fashion, but a good period
for music.
CP: You talked about tea a little bit, not remembering going to it. Where there any sort of
traditions on campus that you do remember or like were particularly fond of?
BB: I think that Scripps might be more traditions based now. I remember as a freshman they
woke you up as some sort of initiation with pots and pans and would sing this song. I’m sort of
happy that stuff went by the wayside. I’m assuming that went by the wayside, I don’t really
know. I cant remember, but I’m sure I’ll remember after the camera stops rolling. But I have an
appreciation for the things like tea and exhibits and one of my interests now is that I love to go to
gardens. And I think that’s somehow influenced that Scripps is such a lovely campus and living
here for four years sort of instilled that.
CP: Did you go to many cultural or art events on campus during your time here?
[30:09]
BB: I think so. I think that I would deliberately seek out things. I mean I wasn’t an art major or
didn’t have any particular creativity along those lines, but I sort of liked to see what was offered.
And I do that even now.
CP: That’s nice. Do you remember any sort of specific world events going on and how those
affected the campus during your time at Scripps?
BB: I remember, and this is a good example of my naïveté, I think that’s when the voting age
went from 21 to 18. I guess we need to tell candidate Perry that. I guess he had a slip lately and
said something about the voting age being 21.
CP: Yes.
BB: Ok and I remember thinking that McGovern was going to win, because everybody was
going to vote for McGovern, because I see it everywhere I go and what’s the big deal. And it
didn’t occur to me that although I see that where I go, I don’t go very far outside of the bounds of
the college. So that was a good lesson for me, that if you are going to formulate an opinion you
need to do that based on a wide spread observations. You can’t stay in a little narrow area and
make assumptions about the greater world.
CP: So was Scripps pretty political with elections or did it stay pretty neutral?
BB: I think that Scripps, like any college, had a core of politically active and informed students. I
don’t know if that was a reflection of students overall.
CP: Mhm and you said you didn’t get to much further outside than the bounds of the college. Did
you ever go into the village? What was the village like in those days?
BB: Oh gosh I can remember the village. It was so small and had that one little movie theatre and
its an entirely different place now, but there were just a few restaurants and the one movie theatre
as I said. And we would walk there and it was kind of charming, I liked it. I think the Danson
was established in the 70s so, it was there as it still is now. I remember in terms of national, not
political, but it was a phenomena, streaking was big. So yeah, there were those events. Even now
if you look at my year in one of the yearbooks, one of the dorms took a series of pictures of some
of the students naked. It’s very well done and very tasteful, but it’s just kind of interesting that
that was on of those trends that thankfully was short lived.
CP: So is that what you would do on the weekends? Go into the village? Those sorts of things?
BB: I’d go into the village or occasionally I’d go home. Maybe once a month, once every six
weeks, always taking laundry with me when I went. Lets see, what else? You know if there were
parties I’d go to parties, but usually local. Sometimes I had friends who left Claremont to
socialize, I didn’t do that very often I don’t think. That’s about it.
CP: Did they talk about the Claremont bubble back then? I know that’s how they sort of refer to
it these days.
BB: I don’t remember that terminology, but I suspect we were all kind of aware of it.
CP: So when you were at Scripps you said you didn’t really imagine yourself going into biology
and those sorts of things just caught you by surprise. What did you sort of imagine your life
being like after graduation when you were at Scripps?
BB: I wish that I had been as far thinking as some of the students that I encountered. I had no
idea. I don’t think I finally decided on my major until junior year. I just didn’t know, but I did
like the idea that, what I knew for sure at the time that I came to Scripps, was that the idea of
being at a place where I could read uninterrupted and without disapproval was very close to
heaven for me. And you know I had family that was very supportive of education, particularly
college education. And I credit my mother because I’ve mentioned this before that she was hard
working, both my parents were. She never paid retail if she could get something discounted or on
sale. We were considering the cost of college and I thought well maybe I should just go to the
local college for two more years, come to Scripps or somewhere else after that. And she was
absolutely appalled that I thought that way and she was like “we have always considered this
something worthwhile, an education, your education we will make the necessary sacrifices
financially to make that a reality and so if you want to go to four year college go to four year
college.” So I was really appreciative of that. Even thinking about that now she was far more
foresighted than I was at the time.
[35:47]
CP: And were they both college educated as well?
BB: Neither.
CP: So were you the first one in your family to go to college?
BB: Um I’m one of four sisters. I’m the only one to have completed college. I think that’s
probably accurate to say at least in my immediate family.
CP: That’s impressive. And do you feel like Scripps did a good job preparing you for the real
world as it was?
BB: I think Scripps did a lot of good things for me but I wouldn’t say preparing me for the real
world one of my harshest criticisms of Scripps at the time, which has since been corrected. When
I was looking for a job I would sneak into UCLA’s library and look at their job listings and I just
don’t think that there was anything comparable at Scripps in terms of preparation for
employment. So I think what Scripps did do though was give me the confidence to seek out what
I needed to do in terms of making life decisions and career decisions and interacting with people
in a way that allowed me to do….I’ll be honest with you, as a pharmaceutical sales rep there are
a lot of things that are required of you that’s not my nature, I’m not by nature particularly
comfortable socially interacting with people I don’t know well. So I really had to work to you
know master those social skills. And I think in a lot of ways Scripps did that kind of preparation.
Not the real world stuff, that I had to learn after graduation.
CP: And do you have any particular memories of Scripps that stand out in your mind? Any
particular fond memories?
BB: I think I do. I think I look fondly back at Scripps overall. Hard to identify any specifics. And
since I’ve never been anywhere else, I have not been to graduate school or to any other college
other than as a visitor I look at that four years as pivotal to forming who I am and what I value
today. Would I have gotten that somewhere else? It’s possible. I don’t think Scripps is necessarily
best for everybody but I think it has a lot to offer the student who seeks out the kind of
environment it provides.
CP: I think that’s about it. Do you have anything else that you’d like to add that you haven’t had
a chance to talk about?
BB: I can’t think of anything. I mean I’m sure in retrospect there will be something I wish I’d
said but I do think that a lot of what I value currently, what is important to me, I mean you have
your career and what you do to make a living and then you have the things you devote your time
to post career. So I’m lucky in that I retired before I turned fifty.
CP: Oh wow that’s impressive.
BB: Well, it was a combination of luck and being at the right place at the right time. And so,
what that meant for me, I mean I like to travel, I like to visit gardens as I mentioned to you, but
also the volunteer work I do as a child advocate. I work with foster children, but I make
recommendations to the judge who ultimately decides whether that child gets placed back with
their family or in a different situation. I’ve gotten involved with the Carter Center and been very
impressed with that. I’m a donor; I’m not in any way employed. I visit there once a year, but I
was so impressed with the kind of work they did, so I sort of made a connection between Scripps
and the Carter Center. And so I sponsor a student from Scripps to attend the Carter Center at their
executive briefing and the idea came to me because, as they were informing their donors of what
they did, it was so aligned with my major when I majored in human biology that I thought a
student from Scripps could benefit from this, because they learn about how a nonprofit can make
an impact on the world in a very responsible and not patronizing way. And at one point I did
some research on Ellen Browning Scripps and she was particularly far sighted. I mean you think
of the period when she lived and to establish this institution, to use words that resonate today as
it did when this college was founded. So gosh, I feel like I’m talking nonstop forever. Forgive
me, but I value that and I think that that holds up and that’s worthwhile in the 21st century as it
was in the 20th.
[41:29]
CP: Thank you so much for coming here today.
BB: Sure, I’m glad to talk about it because it makes me think.
CP: Yeah you seem very happy when you are talking about it, which is inspiring.
BB: Well tell me I’d like to hear a little about the two of you.
MR: Well if you don’t mind me asking, how was it being pregnant while you were at Scripps?
BB: I can remember writing my thesis and going down the hall to throw up and then going back
to writing my thesis. I was petrified that I wasn’t going to graduate. It may be not frowned upon
quite to the extent it was in the 50’s or 60’s, but I knew I couldn’t disappoint my family and not
graduate. There was too much invested financially and otherwise. So yeah, I can remember going
to the registrars office, and I guess I had done it on more than once, and she was like “You are on
track to graduate, it hasn’t changed since the last time you came here, you are going to graduate.”
Because I knew I’d completed the thesis, I just didn’t want there to be like, “oh gosh you didn’t
take this, you didn’t complete this class.” I had nightmares about it, so the line between reality
and nightmares was blurred. So yeah, it was a bit of a challenge.
MR: Was there support in place? Like was there like a health center or something like that?
BB: Yeah there was a health center, but I don’t think I took advantage of it to that degree. It’s a
good thing that, you know, I was young, I was healthy.
[43:42]